Academy Lake Improvements

If you have been strolling down the 9th hole on the Maxwell Course, you will notice some changes. Academy Lake has been lowered to accommodate some improvements coming to the ditch and the lake.

Colorado Academy's main goal is to dredge their lake as it is their only source for water. We are lowering our pond to help with their efforts by lessening the alluvial level. This has been a great exercise for us as we have learned a lot about our pond. According to our records our pond was last cleaned in 1980. There is certainly some sediment that has built up since then, but we have realized that the pond is deeper and we can pump more than we thought.

Last week the grounds staff saved about 40 fish from the pond. CA is storing those fish to replace when the project is complete.

A spillway and pipe will be installed in the coming weeks between the ponds. Often times when leaves pile up and back up CA's outlet structure the water would back up into the the 9th fairway bunker and even the fairway. The spillway will prevent this from happening again.

The installed pipe will maintain the level of both ponds and allow fish to pass through, it can also be used as a drain for our pond when it comes time for us to perform maintenance.

Ditch repairs are also in order as a silt trap and new headwall will be installed. The silt trap is extremely important as it is something we are trying to improve upon all over the ditch. This will catch silt that travels through the ditch and can be cleaned periodically to prevent loading in the pond.

The headwall upgrade will appropriately distribute water evenly to both Colorado Academy and Pinehurst.

It is obvious they had some tree removal on the lake as well. There were a number of water hungry cottonwoods, maintenance and safety issues they have been correcting. We look forward to the completed project not only for benefiting water usage but aesthetics as well.